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MOTOROLA by AN749/D
SEMICONDUCTOR
APPLICATION NOTE
AN749
BROADBAND TRANSFORMERS AND POWER
COMBINING TECHNIQUES FOR RF
Prepared by: H. Granberg
RF Circuits Engineering
RF Application Reports 1
Motorola, Inc. 1993
AN749
Some transformers, which exhibit good broad band
performance and are easy to duplicate are shown in
Figure 1.
Transformers E and F are intended for input applications,
although A in a smaller physical form is also suitable. In E,
Solder Area 68
the windings are photo etched on double sided copper-Kap-
ton* (or copper-fiberglass) laminate. The dielectric thickness
is 3 mils, and the winding area is 0.25 in2. Ferrite plates Copper
(µr = 2000 to 3000) are cemented on each side to improve Strip 38
the low frequency response. This type transformer in the size
shown, can handle power levels to 10 W. Figure 2 shows Plastic
curves for laminate thickness versus winding area for various Insulation
impedance ratios. Material 40
10
9 25 Ω : 50 Ω Solder Area 62
LAMINATE THICKNESS (MILS)
8 10 Ω : 50 Ω
7 5 Ω : 50 Ω
Fiberglass
6 Material
Solder
5 Area 70
4
3
2 Plastic
Insulation
1 Strip 58
0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9
TRANSFORMER SIZE (AREA IN.2)
2 RF Application Reports
AN749
Table 2. Impedance at Terminals BB′ of toroids which may be more readily available, can be
Transformer Terminated as Shown stacked.
b, 4 TURNS
A′ B′
f (MHz) Rp (Ohms) Xp (Ohms) f (MHz) Rp (Ohms) Xp (Ohms)
1.0 53.0 + j 185 1.0 54.0 + j 1030
2.0 52.6 + j 330 2.0 54.0 + j 3090
4.0 52.9 + j 430 4.0 54.0 + j 5800
8.0 53.1 + j 600 8.0 53.9 – j 300
16.0 53.2 + j 750 16.0 53.1 – j 760
32.0 53.5 + j 3060 32.0 53.2 – j 600
Multi-Turn Winding
The reactance in the 50 Ohm port (BB′) should measure Threaded
a minimum of + j 200. To achieve this for a 4:1 transformer, Through Tubings
a and b should each have three turns, and for a 9:1
transformer, four turns. When the windings are connected
as a 9:1 configuration, the optimum Zo is 16.6 Ohms, and
a larger amount of high frequency compensation will be
necessary. Lower impedance lines can be realized with Connections
heavier wires or by twisting more than two pairs together. to Tubings
(e.g., four pairs of AWG #36 enameled wire would result in
the Zo of approximately 18 Ohms.) Detailed information on
the manufacture of twisted wire transmission lines can be
found in References 2, 4, and 8. Shorted Tube Ends
Ferrite Sleeves,
Figure 1A shows one of the most practical designs for Stackpole 57-0472-24A,
higher impedance ratios (16 and up). The low impedance or Equivalent.
winding always consists of one turn, which limits the
available ratios to integers 1, 4, 9 — N. Data taken of this Figure 4. Physical Construction of a 16:1 Transformer
type of a 16:1 transformer is shown in Table 3, while Figure 4 (Actual Number of Turns Not Shown)
illustrates the physical construction. Two tubes, 1.4″ long and
1/4″ in diameter — copper or brass — form the primary The coupling coefficient between the primary and
winding. The tubes are electrically shorted on one end by secondary is almost a logarithmic function of the tube
a piece of copper-clad laminate with holes for the tubes and diameter and length. This factor becomes more important
the tube ends are soldered to the copper foil. The hole with very high impedance ratios such as 36:1 and up, where
spacing should be larger than the outside diameter of the higher coupling coefficients are required. The losses in the
ferrite sleeves. ferrite are determined by the frequency, permeability and flux
A similar piece of laminate is soldered to the opposite density. The approximate power handling capability can be
ends of the tubes, and the copper foil is divided into two calculated as in Reference 4 and 6, but the ferrite loss factor
sections, thus isolating the ends where the primary should be taken into consideration. The µr in all magnetic
connections are made. The secondary winding is formed by materials is inversely proportional to the frequency, although
threading wire with good RF insulating properties through very few manufacturers give this data.
the tubes for the required number of turns. Two other variations of this transformer are shown in
Although the measurements indicate negligible differ- Figure 5 . The smaller version is suitable for input matching,
ences in performance for various wire sizes and types and can handle power levels to 20 W. It employs a stackpole
(stranded or solid), the largest possible diameter should be dual balun ferrite core 57-1845-24B. The low impedance
chosen for lower resistive losses. The initial permeability of winding is made of 1/8″ copper braid. The portions of braid
the ferrite sleeves is determined by the minimum inductance going through the ferrite are rounded, and openings are
required for the lowest frequency of operation according to made in the ends with a pointed tool. The high impedance
the previous formula. Typical µr ’s can vary from 800 to 3000 winding is threaded through the rounded portions of the
depending upon the cross sectional area and lowest braid, which was uncovered in each end of the ferrite core.
operating frequency. Instead of the ferrite sleeves, a number (See Figures 4 and 5.)
RF Application Reports 3
AN749
Increasing the minimum required line length by a factor
of 4 will provide the isolation, and the total length is still within
the calculated limits. The power loss in this PTFE insulated
co-axial cable is 0.03 dB/ft at 30 MHz in contrast to 0.12 dB/ft
for a twisted wire line. The total line loss in the transformer
will be about 0.1 dB.
The number of turns on the toroids has been increased
beyond the point where the flux density of the magnetic core
is the power limiting factor. The combined line and core
losses limit the power handling capability to approximately
300 W, which can be slightly increased by employing lower
loss magnetic material.
Note the connection arrangement (Figure 6), where the
braid of the cable forms the high current path of the primary.
Toroids-Indiana
General F627-19 Q1,
or Equivalent.
Figure 5. Variations of Transformers in Figure 1A
4 RF Application Reports
AN749
permeability and low losses over a wide frequency range. impedance as a result of a transistor failure. As an input
For high-frequency applications, some ferrites offer satisfac- power splitter, neither 50-Ohm port will ever be subjected
tory characteristics, making bandwidths of four or more to a short due to the base compensation networks, should
octaves possible. a base-emitter junction short occur. An open junction will
Depending upon the balance and phase differences result in half of the input power being dissipated by the
between the sources, the currents should be mostly balancing resistor, the other half still being delivered to the
cancelled in the balun lines. In a balanced condition, very amplifier in operation. The operation is reversed when the
little power is dissipated in the ferrite cores, and most hybrid is used as an output combiner. A transistor failure will
occurring losses will be resistive. Thus, a straight piece of practically always cause an increase in the amplifier output
transmission line loaded with a high permeability ferrite impedance. Compared to the 50-Ohm load impedance it can
sleeve, will give better results than a multiturn toroid be regarded as an open circuit. When only one amplifier is
arrangement with its inherent higher distributed winding operative, half of its output power will be dissipated by R,
capacitance. the other half being delivered to the load. The remaining
It is customary to design the individual amplifiers for active source will still see the correct load impedance, which
50 Ohm input and output impedances for testing purposes is a basic requirement in combining linear amplifiers. The
and standardization. 50- and 25-Ohm co-axial cable can then resistors (R) should be of noninductive type, and rated for
be employed for the transmission lines. Twisted wire lines 25% of the total power, unless some type of automatic shutoff
should not be used at power levels higher than 100 Watts system is incorporated. The degree of isolation obtainable
average, due to their higher dielectric losses. depends upon the frequency, and the overall design of the
Variations of the basic hybrid are shown in Figure 7A and hybrid. Typical figures for 2 to 30 MHz operation are
B where both are suitable for power dividing or combining. 30 – 40 dB. Figures 8A and B show 4 port “totem pole”
structures derived from Figures 7A and 7B. Both can be used
with even number of sources only, e.g. 4, 8, 16, etc. For type
8B, it is more practical to employ toroidal multi-turn lines,
RL
RL rather than the straight line alternatives, discussed earlier.
2 The power output with various numbers of inoperative
sources can be calculated as follows, if the phase differences
are negligible: (Reference 2)
P
RL Pout = ǒ Ǔ N1
N
RL where:
2 P = Total power of operative sources
N = Total number of sources
Figure 7A N1 = Number of operative sources
Assuming the most common situation where one out of
four amplifiers will fail, 75% of the total power of the
RL remaining active sources will be delivered to the load.
RL Another type of multiport hybrid derived from Figure 7A
2 is shown in Figure 9. It has the advantage of being capable
2 X RL of interfacing with an odd number of sources or loads.
In fact, this hybrid can be designed for any number of
ports. The optimum values of the balancing resistors will vary
RL according to this and also with the number of ports assumed
to be disabled at one time. Two other power combining
arrangements are shown in Figures 10 and 11. The isolation
Figure 7B characteristics of the four-port output combiner were
measured, the data being shown in Table 5. The ferrite
Figure 7. Variations of Basic Hybrid sleeves are Stackpole 57-0572-27A, and the transmission
lines are made of RG-142/U co-axial cable. The input power
The balancing resistors are necessary to maintain a low dividers described here, employ Stackpole 57-1511-24B
VSWR in case one of the 50-Ohm points reaches a high ferrites, and the co-axial cable is Microdot 250-4012-0000.
RF Application Reports 5
AN749
25 Ω
a
50 Ω
R1
b e
12.5 Ω
50 Ω C1
R3
c f
C2
50 Ω
R2 12.5 Ω
d
50 Ω
50 Ω C3
25 Ω T1 = 4:1
Zo (a, b, c, d) = 50 Ω g
Zo (e, f, g) = 25 Ω
Figure 8A
100 Ω
50 Ω R1
50 Ω
50 Ω
25 Ω R3
50 Ω a
1:4
50 Ω c 12.5 Ω d
25 Ω
b
50 Ω C1
R2 Line impedances:
a, b = 50 Ω
100 Ω c, d = 25 Ω
Figure 8B
+
R 50 Ω 50 Ω R
a a
+
R 50 Ω 50 Ω R
b b
R + R
50 Ω 50 Ω
c c
50 Ω Input 50 Ω Output
T1 = 3:1
C1 T2 = 1:3 C2
d e
R = 22.2, 16.6 Ohms
Zo (a, b, c) = 50 Ω
Zo (d, e) = 25 Ω (optimum 28.9Ω)
6 RF Application Reports
AN749
+
50 Ω 50 Ω
R a a R
25 Ω + 25 Ω
50 Ω 50 Ω
50 Ω Input 50 Ω Output
C1 c d C2
T1 = 2:1 T2 = 1:2
Zo (a, b) = 50 Ω
Zo (c, d) = 25 Ω (optimum 35.4Ω)
R 50 Ω 50 Ω R
a a
R R
50 Ω 50 Ω
b b
R R
50 Ω 50 Ω
c c
R R
50 Ω 50 Ω
d d
V
50 Ω Input 50 Ω Output
C1 C2
T1 = 4:1 R T2 = 1:4
e f
RL= 12.5 Ohms
RF Application Reports 7
AN749
Table 5. Isolation Characteristics of
Four Port Output Combiner
Isolation,
Port-to-Port
f (MHz) (dB)
2.0 27.0 – 29.4
4.0 34.8 – 38.2
7.5 39.0 – 41.2
15 32.1 – 33.5
20 31.2 – 33.0
30 31.0 – 33.4
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AN749
REFERENCES 6. Granberg, H.: Broadband Linear Power Amplifiers Us-
ing Push-Pull Transistors, AN-593, Motorola Semicon-
1. Ruthroff: Some Broad Band Transformers, IRE, Volume ductor Products Inc.
47, August 1957. 7. Granberg, H.: Get 300 Watts PEP Linear Across 2 to
2. Pizalis-Couse: Broadband Transformer Design for RF 30 MHz From This Push-Pull Amplifier, EB-27, Motoro-
Transistor Amplifiers, ECOM-2989, U.S. Army Elec- la Semiconductor Products Inc.
tronics Command, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, July 8. Lefferson: Twisted Wire Transmission Line, IEEE
1968. Transactions on Parts, Hybrids and Packaging, Vol.
3. Lewis: Notes on Low Impedance H.F. Broad Band PHP-7, No. 4, December 1971.
Transformer Techniques, Collins Radio Company, No- 9. Krauss-Allen: Designing Toroidal Transformers to Opti-
vember 1964. mize Wideband Performance, Electronics, August
4. Hilbers: Design of H. F. Wideband Power Transformers, 1973.
Philips Application Information #530.
5. Philips Telecommunication Review, Volume 30, No. 4,
pp. 137–146, November 1972.
RF Application Reports 9
AN749
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10 AN749/D
RF Application Reports
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